Conveyer structure



R. E. KLEIN CONVE YER STRUCTURE April 10, 1945.

Figled Sept. 29, 1941 Pods/2f E. flle/n INVENTOR.

.ATT ORNEY.

faces.

vantage that during the carrying portion of their travel the flights may be disposed at right angles Patented Apr. 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE @GN'V' EYER STRUCTURE Robert E. Klein, West Allis Wis., assignor to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 29, 1941, Serial No. 412,745-

claims. joins- 170) This invention relates to apparatus for 0n-' veying material, and more especially to that type of apparatus in which solid flights are employed with a draft mechanism to propel through a closed conduit material of a freely flowing na ture. These solid flights are designed so that during the carrying period of their run, the peripheries of the flights are disposed adjacent the walls of the casing, thereby blocking off longitudinal portions of the material and affording positive means to propel such portions to the discharge outlet of the conveyer.

While these conveyers are normally run at such speeds that the mere provision of an outlet open- -ing appropriately located in the side of the cas,-:

ing will permit gravity discharge of the major portion of the material being handled, even where inclined or vertical runs are encountered, nevertheless it is highly desirable that the top surface of each of the flights be completely cleaned in order that material may not be carried back on the return run of the conveyer.

Efforts have been made to employ flights which are rigidly attached to the draft mechanism, and

to so design the top surfaces of the flights as by I pitching them at a steep angle, in order that they may shed the material, during vertical runs, at the discharge outlet. Inclined or convex flights of this type, however, have a serious disadvantage in that they tend to crowd the material against the walls of the casing during the carrying runs of the conveyer, and moreover, with some materials, it is practically impossible to pitch the flights steep enough to cause self cleaning, at least without greatly augmenting the crowing effect previously alluded to.

In contra-distinction to these rigidly attached convex or sloping flights, flights have been employed which are pivotally supported by the chain and trippers have been disposed adjacent the discharge outlet to cause tilting of theflights sufiicient to clean their respective carrying sur- These latter arrangements have the adto the path of the draft mechanism, thereby avoiding crowding of materials, whereas in discharging, they may be positively impelled, as by tripping, to cause more complete removal of material.

A highly desirable arrangement of pivoted flights is disclosed in the White Patent 2,271,789 issued February 3, 1942, in that the flights are disposed ahead of the chain attachments and are thus enabled to pivot toward the discharge the control of the position of the flights after discharge is effected; and during the feeding of new material; and it is to the solution of these difflculties that the present invention is primarily directed.

With these considerations in mind, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved conveyer of the solid, pivotal flight type in which friction and wear between the flights and the casing will be prevented during the empty portion of the conveyers travel, and in which the flights will be positioned prior to receiving material whereby crushing or crowding of the material will be avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyer of the character described which will be more eflicient in operation .than conveyers heretofore employed. a

With these objects in view, the invention resides in the novel combination, arrangement and disposition of elements as hereinafter described in detail and pointed out-in the appended claims.

For specific embodiments of the invention, refrence is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete conveyer with part of the casing'broken away;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of a chain link showing the flight attachment;

Figure 3 is a view of a portion of the link structure shown in Figure 2, looking from the underside of the flight;

Figure 4is an enlarged side, elevation of the tripping device used to position the flights for receiving material;

Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevation taken partly in section, illustrating the joint between adjacent chain links;

Figure 7 is a section taken on Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is asection taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1. i

The conveyer illustrated in the drawing is of the L shaped type, in that the casing has a horizontal portion H and a vertical portion I2 the device shown in the line 1- of through which the draft and scraper mechanism is arranged to run. This particular con- I figuration is by no means the only one which may be utilized in the design of the casing, for the active runs may be entirely horizontal or entirely vertical, or they may be inclined at any desired angle. These various shapes are so Well known in the art, that extended elaboration respecting them is not considered necessary.

The L shaped type of conveyer is arranged so that material may be fed through a hopper l3 which communicates with the return or'empty run [4 of the conveyer, the hopper [being disposed above horizontal portion H of the casing. Material which is fed through the hopper is movedgby the chain 15 and flights 16 across the top surface ofr-thepartition wall' l hwhichidiuides the active and return runs iii the horizontai portion of the conveyer. Obviously a slidinge'or pivotal gate may be employed with the hop-per opening to control the feed of material, "out in most cases this will not be. necessary asthe solid conveyer flights moving past'thefipeningxaotsas a gate controlling the rateof feed.

The chain and flight .construction, shown in greater detail in Figures 2'; Sand Y-issuch that the flights l6 when traveling in a verticahdirec tion are at right anglesto the plane of the chain this? illustrationflalternate ,links)- are provided -witlr-forwardlyprojecting arms l 9,-;each-arm having near its-forward extremity art-ransver'selyarranged aperture for receiving a pin 2!) pivotallyconnecting the flights tdthe' chain. Each 'flight I 6 is' shaped so' thatits'periphery is adj ac cut: the

"wallsf the casing when' the-flight: is at right angles to thechain, :and iINOFdEI te straddle: the

links, the flights have notches 2 las illustrated ing'onthi's lbossithe flight i's'in a-horizontal position during upward-travel of the ohain through r the-vertical-=section of the casing.

Y Thechain construction:whichis used-with the conveyer is preferably-ofi the type describ'edwinsmy copending application for 'Ui'i SilBetters Patent,

" 'Serial 'Number $073063 rfiledzrAugust 515, 194 l, in

- which"thelinks J ll,- when viewedvfrom therfront;

: are shaped; thebiturcated portion.121i at. one

-- end being wideenough to accommodate the'shank '-'-member4="ofthe-adjaceritllink in articulating relation there-to. For easednassembling and=disassemloling, the shank end of the link is provided with a key shaped aperture havingi straightiportions i imregistry mth -theialigned apertures-in -the legs of' t'he bi fiuroated portions Pins c2 5. "have flattened intermediatepontions ongm ves :2 I. Fof

-*- approximately the samercwidth 5&3: thatgof. the

*sha'nh-endfof: the' linlr, and-When assemhledvform a dead bearing, with the .pins locked againstrlateraldisplacement To remove thepina adjacent '2 ginksmay berpivotediat rl-ghtfmglesand theshank end moved sufficiently so thatrthaipinnregisters' 1 with-the circulanp ortionn 8: otthekey. holeslot.

Movement of the pin with relation to thezslot,

without pivoting'ini themannemdescvi ednismre- '-=vente'd icy-theEabuttingdelation ion therend :Dfl' the shank portion 24 against the hottomlongofithe" I: legs --of.-the=double :hinge portion .oii-itheiadjoining link. Reflex of the chain, i. e., articulationzin a directions ODPOSitBntO thattrequired ibylzsprocket engagement, is prevented by the provisiomoi-an .approximatelyrsquarezscorner wwnpathe nd of 'l' the shanklportiontfl. a A slightaamountzofzrefiex is inecessarynto-enable Jthe chaimtoxpasslarcund .i bends inrthetcasing such a&-1iS CD QYidBdwbyZthe .i band :31 von'xthe: returmrun:ofxthexcorrveyer illuswtratednin Figure. 11*, and-:toraccomnlishi thistheflat m endiof shank portion 24;. is-znQtmtrightzhIi-flefi v i'lr'th link: but. azslighhgamangler isrpro zid dlzbe- -;.'::tween"1the i'abnttingzsuniacess'iwihen theichaim is 1 'lmde n ionnto zpcrmit zthe. sdesiited, amount; ;of

.srel'lex. I

The reasonionthisrigid'lbfiicktanrazn mentw :now.=bc describedwshouldlzthe .chaimbeco t eidismnne d f rransrarcasom andzcollapsez mthe c sminst a s impertant torr irenh-reflexine, becau if: theichainzlinksfrfifiexmlffleie tly; the ninzmay' slide back into the circular portion 28 of the keyhole slot and being locked there, it is extremely diflicult to remove the chain from the casing. if Flexingrfof *the' links ini the. normal direction in Ethat portion 'of the casing where the flights are r closely confined is efiectively limited because the link which carries the flight is held against the -inner or back wall 32 'of the casing by the flight and the rigidlarm J 9. UDischargemfcthe conveyer is promoted by the {IiDIOYiSiQflJtOfI a..t;ripping cam 33 disposed adjacent the discharge opening 34, said cam being arrangedtolift' theback portion of the flights as Ltheyitravel by and to propel them into an in-' a cover 35 in:which-is disposed at head sprocket -;or wheel-i3 S mon-med for'rotation byshaft31;-the 5.. latter. :driven by a: suitablezsourceof power-not -.i shown. .Thea. sprocket: is preferably: designed-.so that the teethmay engagethebifurcated-ends 101: the links, in 'whichwcase thezsprocket must-have a- ,medial groove/to permit- -thevlinks-to lie as chords row the sprocketsperiphery. ii'In :orderx to L :control :the speed ofvcarrii'33, a direct, drive from ishaft; i311 maybe employed,.- as indicated byrthe I i dotted chain e38;;-the;ratio of :speeds :of sprocket -.-:;.36.and:. cam;=33 being suchthat"the;,.cam"will:eniga-gezeachfiight in proper ztimed relation :to:eflect -:;ti-1ting asdescri bied .in thegaforesaidrwhite patent.

The partition dividingsthetwo verticalzlegpor- 15510115; is zbentiat a vpointjust:a-bovezthe :outlet 34 a andwthen: extended overithe :returnaleg .portion '40 :to: form ;an inclined :deck: 39, 1 downiwhichglmaterial: :maybendischarged which". is; .not completely s-removed. :after tripping ofrthezflights. .As indihated: Figure 1,1.this' deck extends well. under :-'.-:the head. wheel: 3 6. and; is. also, closely. adjacent mam :33; theamotionjofrthe latter .helpingrto sweep a ::the.- material; :down :the ,deck; a d into. .the 1outwlGt-j {I'hev width ofthecasingdefinemby the side mvallszflfl of 13118,.JhBadAESBCtiDHEiSZL315C! increased .1; adjac ent the: outlet thexeby;facilitating :discharge "5Qv by-.spermitting:imaterial PtQQ fall offithe flightsr-toward the sides.

Accordingly it: will ibe seenrthat the sidewalls Q40; the; deck 139 :and :the; front: wall; 'haYing-zthe reopening ;;34 1-ovide a;,dischargeichamber:enclos- I ;--,ing; the tiltingmeans 13 3 ;-and;.'communicating with ubsequent; materialrmoving:upwardly. ;.-.;But in -=.zeith rev ntgthezmat rial doest-notzlodge between i haiiish nan the ca in and a sclean 'dischar is; constantly: effected .arti n ezcha nzpas sz he.headrshroekeh-grav .i-ity;all B the fli hts-.toswin away-immobilizmment 22-, :and Ql-imit such-.swinginggmotiomz-tm ;underside- :of. :the 1 flight. is, provided .awi-thv a;:stop ,4 I; which; is arr anged jtOj'. labutzcan .extensioni:42

7 :formedpnr-the flight-.supportingnrm 9.- These stops M and 42 are arranged to permit pivoting of the flights to a suitable angle of the order of 45, which is sufiicient for the discharge of ma-' terial and yet keeps the flights out of contact with the casing while articulating around the sprockets or traveling down the vertical leg. The disposition of this stop on the underside of the flight avoids any interference with the free flow of material off the top of the flight during discharge and also minimizes the possibility of material being pocketed between the link and the flight during the winging motion of the latter.

Referring again to the feeding portion of the conveyer, provision is made at the endof the horizontal section H for an idler sprocket =33, which is spaced from the end of the partition I! dividing the return and active run a suflicient distance to permit material to flow over the end of the partition into the lower run. Disposed ahead of the area which is occupied by the down flowing material is a tripping device generally desighated 44, which has an arm 65 extending into the path of the forwardly tilted flights leaving the idler sprocket 43. This device, enlarged views of which are shown in Figures 4 and 5, may be pivotally mounted in the side of the casing, and a counterweight 65 may be attached to a second arm 4'! arranged so that the counterweight may retard the forward leaning edge of the flight until the flight is in vertical position, after which the flight may pass under arm 45, and the weight will then swing the arm back into position for engaging the next flight.

The relation of the positioning device 44 to the partition l? is such that material moved over the end of the partition by the flights on the upper run may flow into the space between the flights on the lower run without interfering with the positioning device, and the flights may be positioned before any substantial amount of material has a chance to flow over the forward leaning edge into the succeeding flight compartment. This arrangement has been found to be of a distinctadvantage because while the weight of material tends to force the flights into a position contiguous to abutment 22 during vertical runs, yet, if substantial amount of material is behind the flight when it is pressed back into this position, the latter material will be crowded together and may even be crushed.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

propelling material through the casing, the combination of a draft mechanism comprising links,

cent link and having a keyhole slot therein, a pin connecting the links and having a flat portion coo erating with the key hole slot to provide a dead bearing therewith, the end of the shank portion of the link closely abutting that part of the adjacent link which connects the bifurcated portion, whereby the connection of the links can only be effected by pivoting the adjacent links at substantially right angles to each other, and means on the abutting portion of the links limiting pivotal movement of adjacent links so as to require connection of the linksby pivoting in the direction of link articulation only.

3. A conveyer-for transporting solid flowable material comprising a casing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet, an endless chain arranged to move through said casing, a plurality of flights pivotally secured to said chain and disposed when in one position of such pivotal securement to occupy substantially the entire cros section of said casing, means for tilting the flights out of said position when adjacent the discharge outlet to facilitate cleaning of the flights, and means disposed ahead of said inlet opening for tilting the flights into said position prior to their engagement by the material.

4. In a conveyer for transporting solid flowable material in bulk, a casing substantially enclosing the carrying run of the conveyer, said casing having a back wall, side walls and a front wall provided with a discharge outlet, an endless chain arranged to move longitudinally through said casing, a plurality of flights pivotally secured to said chain arranged to occupy substantially the entire cross section of the casing when transverse to the chain, means for tilting said flights 1. In a. conveying device, the combination of a casing having a portion disposed mainly hori zontal and dividedinto vertically superimposed conveying conduits; an endless chain and pivotal flights attached thereto arranged to operate through said conduits; a foot sprocket at the terminal of the horizontal conduit; a partition separating the conduits, and a tripping device disposed in the path of the flights traveling through the lower conduit and removed a substantial distance from the foot sprocket, said device being arranged to position the flights leaving the foot sprocket so that they may assume a substantially vertical position immediately prior to receiving material in the horizontal portion of the conveyers run. I y

2. In a conveyer having a casing with an upwardly extending, ubstantially enclosing leg and an outlet and flights pivotally secured thereto for seriatim adjacent said discharge outlet, and a discharge chamber enclosing said tilting means and communicating with said casing comprising extensions of said back and side walls, said extensions each sloping away from said flights to provide for the gradual loosening of material directly above the flights and to remove all lateral support therefor prior to flight engagement by said tilting means.

5. In a conveyer for transporting solid flowable material in bulk, a casing substantially enclosing the carrying run of the conveyer, said casing having a back wall, side walls and a front wall provided with a discharge outlet, an endless chain arranged to move longitudinally through said casing, a plurality of flights pivotally secured to said chain arranged to occupy substantially the entire cross section of the casing when transverse to the chain, means for tilting said flights seriatim adjacent said discharge outlet, and a discharge chamber enclosing said tilting means and communicating with said casing, said discharge chamber comprising an extension of said back wall inclined away from the path of said flights at a point above said outlet and below said tilting means and extensions of said side walls also sloping away from said flights at points below the deflection of said back wall and above said outlet.

ROBERT E. KLEIN. 

